Case Study : Women Returners - PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP

The impact of being a parent was often raised in the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) quarterly people survey. So, in 2004 the company conducted an in-depth survey of all their staff who were parents to help them understand better if there were significant difficulties in finding quality, affordable childcare; how being a parent was impacting on work commitments; and whether there were ways in which PwC could support parents. The survey resulted in a number of tangible actions which were implemented, including:

• Introduction of an emergency childcare programme which was piloted in Spring 2006
• Focus on flexible working in each of the firm’s businesses
• Development of a parents network and the introduction of parenting seminars
• Review of PwC’s maternity policy for multiple births – childcare vouchers now increase for eligible employees returning from maternity leave following the birth of twins and triplets
• Review of PwC’s support to women going on and returning from maternity leave

PwC’s maternity return rate is 92% compared with just 40% in 1998.

The firm-wide review of flexible working policies and practices is continuing and the results will inform the next set of priorities in this area In the meantime, recent progress includes

• Publication of the Working Parent brochure in collaboration with the PwC’s Parents Network
• Running first aid courses for Parents during the working day
• Benchmarking the maternity package